Ariel Hukporti is out for the season with a torn Achilles, and just like that, the Sixers are right back where they started with their backup center dilemma. Mike Gansey brought in the 24-year-old on a one-year deal this summer, hoping he’d ascend into a solid 10-15 minute per game guy for Embiid or even a viable starter when Embiid rested. It was a bet on youth, a totally different vibe from Andre Drummond, who ironically signed with Hukporti’s former team, the New York Knicks. Now, it’s back to the drawing board for the Sixers, again.
The Recurring Backup Problem Is Relentless
Seriously, how many times can this happen? The Sixers have had this backup big man problem for what feels like forever, especially when Joel Embiid isn’t playing. It makes you wonder, can they ever really nail this spot, or are they just cursed to have a revolving door of centers given how much cash is tied up in their starting lineup? Before Hukporti, Andre Drummond was their most recent attempt at solving this mess. The dude was in his 30s, had history with the Sixers, and was still a solid rebounder coming off the bench. He finished a two-year, $10 million contract last season and even had some moments for Philly in the postseason. Honestly, he did enough for the defending champion Knicks to scoop him up as Hukporti’s replacement. Drummond wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire every night, but compared to some of the other tries the Sixers have made at Embiid’s backup, you gotta admit he was a worthwhile investment.
So, Who’s Left in the Backup Big Man Roulette?
Beyond Drummond, the Sixers have tossed other guys into the center spot in recent years. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker have gotten minutes in smaller lineups, Adem Bona has played some 5, and Guerschon Yabusele saw plenty of frontcourt action during the rough 2024-25 season. You could probably have four different opinions on each of those guys. Yabusele was actually a good find by the organization, a decent scorer, but he ultimately walked in free agency. For what it’s worth, his 2025-26 season between the Knicks and Bulls was pretty underwhelming.
The jury is still way out on Bona, Barlow, and Walker’s effectiveness, and they come with some huge question marks as the solution for backup center this season. Bona, for example, is increasingly unlikely to develop a steady offensive game and can be a total foul machine. Barlow, at just 6-foot-9, is probably going to struggle against centers who are routinely two or three inches taller. Walker has shined in preseason, but he’s on the small side too at 6-foot-7. Nick Nurse has even experimented with 6-foot-9 Dean Wade as a small-ball five in the preseason. It’s like they keep trying, but the answer keeps slipping away.
This torn Achilles for Hukporti just highlights that the Sixers are still scrambling to find someone, anyone, who can reliably step in when Embiid needs a breather. With the regular season already here, the clock is ticking big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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